Erdogan advances his agenda in the name of democracy. The European Union, still eying Turkey as an eventual member, may applaud "democratic reforms" for their own sake, without a thought to how they may be misused to the detriment of Turkey and to Europe, and by those with an agenda to advance the Islamization of both. In other words, Ergodan is advancing the appearance of democracy because it is a useful tool for the moment, and good public relations.

After all, democracies are only as good as the values that inform their participants, who may choose to vote all manner of tyrannies upon themselves, including Sharia. This notion, of course, is most often obscured by two politically correct dogmas: first, that we all ultimately share the same values and vision for the world's future, the West and the Muslim world alike. Second, there is the article of faith among Western elites that Islam is peaceful and tolerant, so more Islam can only be good for a peaceful, tolerant society... as long as it's that true, "moderate" Islam we keep hearing so much about.

From those, one is supposed to conclude that democracy in Turkey will simply unblock a universal impulse to coexist in peace and equality, and in an advanced, tolerant, and pluralistic society. That assumption, after all, was fundamental to the game plan in Iraq and Afghanistan. But it'll fix up Turkey straightaway, right?

No, there is a far more fundamental question of values and priorities that informs Turkey's character and eligibility to join the EU. An update on this story.

"Turkey backs constitutional changes," from BBC News, September 12:

Turkish voters have given strong backing to a package of constitutional changes.

With nearly all votes in the referendum counted, about 58% had voted "Yes" to amending the constitution.

The opposition argues that the governing party, which has its roots in political Islam, is seeking dangerous levels of control over the judiciary.

The government says it wants to bring the constitution more in line with European Union standards.

"We have passed a historic threshold on the way to advanced democracy and the supremacy of law," Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said to the applause of party activists.

The opposition say two of the 26 planned amendments would give the government excessive influence over the judiciary.

They accuse the AKP of trying to seize control of the judiciary as part of a back-door Islamist coup.

Like a majority in Istanbul - the most Westernised city in Turkey, where many are suspicious of the AKP's religious agenda - Ozgur Deniz voted "No".

"The bad thing about this referendum was that we had to either choose or reject the whole package," he told the BBC.

"This is a package where some things are good for democracy - such as less power for the military. But there are some items which might be used by the government to use democracy for non-democratic purposes, like the item regarding the judiciary," he said....

But one must note that reining in the military also plays into Erdogan's hands, as the military has been another guardian of Turkish secularism.

Once secular Turkey, long considered a perfect example of functioning, modern, Muslim state, continues regressing towards the reestablishment of the caliphate and the implementation of Sharia Law. Religious persecution of Christians in Turkey is up, the government continues to lose its secularity in favor of Sharia and they've got an Islamic supremacist controlling their government. The radicals win again.

Title should be once secular oppressive dictatorship being abandoned for Islam and Muslims ruling themselves.

For nearly a hundred years Muslims were oppressed and suppressed by secularism in Turkey.

From the beginning ata turk banned Arabic script, forced Latin script, banned friday prayers, banned hijab in public places, initially changed call to prayer to turkish then banned call to prayer, men with beards were penalized, women wih veils were penalized, barred from education, barred from government work, the list goes on and on. Forced western clothing.

Erdogen is a hero of the Turkish and Muslim people but secularists/atheists and anarchists alike want the process reversed and want a return to military secular dictatorships.

For decades everytime a Muslim oriented leader was elected democratically the military would step in and overthrow the democratically elected government. This was almost attempted and successful with Erdogan as well howver Erdogan caught the criminals in time and arrested and trialed a mass amount of military generals and senior officers when they were plotting a coup a few years back.

Just how in Egypt a US backed military coup just took place, same shit.

Turkey was doing just fine. If there was ever a hope in hell that Islam could progress into the modern day world... it was Turkey! Now... this hope has gone to pot You know... it was nice while it last... a muslim place where you could go for vacation and see history. Lots of freindly ppl... some say the most friedly in the world. Now... fawk that!!! I'd rather stay home were I don't get buried with my head in sand and left for the rats; or stoned by an angry mom like my sis. in Ukraine (also on black sea as my family is from Odessa) and then they dump her in the forest ;( Allahu Akbar!!! ALLAHU AKBAR!!! ALLAHU AKBAR!!!